Air carrier crew misses crossing restriction. Misread heading for distance.

Attributes
ACN	194489
Time
Date	199111
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mrb
State Reference	WV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 15000 msl bound upper : 20000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 10500 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	194489
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	193832
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were descending to bwi to cross munsy at 15000 and after questioned by ATC if able to cross at 15000, realized that we had used the 104 degree bearing instead of mileage for distance. Suggest that the STAR be changed so the 104 is reflected more clearly as heading instead of mileage.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR CREW MISSES XING RESTRICTION. MISREAD HDG FOR DISTANCE.

Narrative: WE WERE DSNDING TO BWI TO CROSS MUNSY AT 15000 AND AFTER QUESTIONED BY ATC IF ABLE TO CROSS AT 15000, REALIZED THAT WE HAD USED THE 104 DEG BEARING INSTEAD OF MILEAGE FOR DISTANCE. SUGGEST THAT THE STAR BE CHANGED SO THE 104 IS REFLECTED MORE CLRLY AS HDG INSTEAD OF MILEAGE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.